Just got back from Negril

Just got back from another amazing week at Couples Negril. Already booked for New year. Got there just as Lobster season started. So much lobster it was crazy...... One of the talks I had with Karen Lanigan was about the forum and this strange censorship that "RandyMon" is implementing. It seems more and more people are noticing it and are not convinced its the way to go. Lets hope that will change soon.

"forum"

A medium for open discussion or voicing of ideas, such as a newspaper, a radio or television program, or a website.

Thanks for your definition of a forum. I would add - as defined by our registration rules:

The Couples Message Board is for polite, thoughtful discussion and inquiries about Couples Resorts only. Posts that are abusive, off subject, silly, containing personal attacks, threats, name calling libels, illegal activities, or hate group messages will not be allowed. By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

Advertising will not be permitted, except by permission, or contract. Couples Resorts reserves the right to reject or edit posts for any reason, but specifically prohibits naming other resorts or resort chains, travel agent or tour companies, other destinations, offsite and/or third party vendors/service providers and other websites or links.

While nearly 99% of all posts are approved, this board is moderated to prevent the very issues stated above AND to ensure that our competition does not also have a voice here.

One of the talks I had with Karen Lanigan was about the forum and this strange censorship that "RandyMon" is implementing. It seems more and more people are noticing it and are not convinced its the way to go. Lets hope that will change soon.

No Roaming, I don't think you can necessarily single out Randymon on this. In all fairness he is doing his job and Couples Management has established the policy, it is their MB. Several of us have moved to http://www.negril.com/cgi-bin/discus.cgi?pg=topics to have more general discussions in terms of Jamaica. I do have a problem however with Couples response to a friend's post to trip advisor recently. It was a post in a less than favorable light to "only one part" of the resort and this friend was aggressively approached by phone calls and an email by an employee of Couples. This stepped over the line in my opinion but it obviously stressed my friend hit a very "hot button" in terms of the resort management. We recognize Jamaica is a different culture however I can only hope that this approach to clients on non-Couples forums is limited to constructive resolution - preferably while the client is still at the resort.

I have to say that I am glad these boards are moderated. So many forums (no matter the subject) end up as nothing more than a place to launch verbal assaults that can be very offensive. I really enjoy knowing that I can come here to read and/or participate without any risk of raising my blood presure.

This message board is not a forum. It's a marketing tool. Of course Randy isn't going to post anything too critical of a Couples resort. That would defeat the purpose of the board. He has rejected a few of mine that were too critical, and I can understand that. His job is to promote Couples, not tear it down. I love Couples and plan on returning every winter as long as I am well enough to travel, but as good as the Couples Resorts are, they are not perfect. If you criticize Couples in a post, it can't be anything too serious and it must be accompanied by a few compliments, or it will not get posted. In fact, I will be very surprised if he allows this post.

I shudder to think where this board would be without moderation by Randymon and other staffers... a little history lesson...

Long ago and far away, a couple of young staffers from guest relations (and rather computer savvy) at SweptAway had launced an MSN Groups message board/room geared to visitors to that resort. A few guests, notibly Cornell and myself, were regulars. That particular "forum" was, after a brief time, inundated with robot spamming engines, most of which were of the dispicable pornographic variety.

Another board (I can't recall what it was called) dedicated to all of the Couples resorts sprung up, and drew devotees from all of them. Again, it was operated on a server by a private party, and after a few months, without a moderator, it was smothered by the evil-doers... but it was a great board while it lasted!

This must have left quite an impression on Couples, because it wasn't too long after that board went defunct that this board was included on the Couples website.

The bottom line is that without a secure server, pre-posted moderation, registration and other tools now standard on the latest MB engines, this board would not be available to us.

This is not a criticism of the original post, by the way, but as the conversation steers to the rationale for this board, I thought a little history lesson would be in order.

to the contrary i have seen negative reviews posted here. folks with legit concerns and issues have been allowed. the fine folks doing the moderation have done a fantastic job keeping this board for all of us running and available and have added staff to try to keep it moving more quickly.

now if Tommywommy can get back on here and enjoy it evry ting will be irie mon.

I have to chime in on this. I think it is important that the reader of this message board take some things into consideration.

First of all this is Couples Resorts Message Board. This is a business tool to promote the Couples Resorts product. Name me one other MB that you can directly communicate with its CEO's?

I belong to a variety of other MB's that provide forums on Jamaica and you simply do not find resort employees interacting with thier guests in forums such as this. As such they have the right to moderate and control controversial issues and control things from getting out of hand. The Message Board rules are rather clear to those becoming members.

I can speak from first hand knowledge that some posts do get deleted or edited and as I look back I can fully understand the reasoning. Randymon and I have had many discussions over the years and on occasions we agree to disagree but when it comes to this message board I agree that it is Couples Resorts right to control its usage as it sees fit.

To those who want an instant and un moderated message board try other sites. I guarantee you will return here.

To those who think it is easy running a message board site try creating one of your own and see what happens. Like Chris eludes to, the porn and the spam hits it and ruins the site. Attempts are made to attack the inner workings and sabotage the site. It becomes unstable, corrupt and then POOF it self destructs. I would venture to guess that Couples Resorts competition has tried and would love to see this MB fail and self destruct. I think the R mon has done a good job with this electronic tool.

While it is easy to beat upon an issue on a message board just think of how many lumps, bumps and attacks that Randymon has taken over the years. Let's be fair and admit it. Running a message board is not an easy task unless you set rules and the ones who make those rules are always named the bad guys.